Resources for Writers

Free Self-Publishing Online

smashwords.com is a self-publishing platform and online bookstore for independent ebook authors and their readers. They offer multi-format, DRM-free ebooks, ready for immediate sampling and purchase, and readable on any e-reading device.

booksie.com Writers can post novels, short stories, poetry, articles, and more on the Booksie site for free, as well as receive and respond to comments and communicate with other writers.

yudu.com. Yudu offers free interactive digital publication, hosted on the yudu site (you do it yourself). For a fee, the marketplace option lets you sell your books on the site.

Writing Raw is a bi-monthly literary zine where any author can self-publish fiction or poetry that will be archived online.

Tools

Duotrope. A searchable database of over 4500 current markets for short fiction, poetry, and novels/collections in all genres. Subscription fee as of January 2013.

The New Pages Big List of Literary Magazines. Focuses on literary print and online magazines, listed A to Z, with google search engine (not as easy to use as Duotrope).

Creative Writers Opportunities List. This Yahoo group posts calls for submissions and contest information for writers of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction.

authorconnect.com. A databank for promoting published or unpublished writing. Entries are free. Includes links to resources and services for writers.

bartleby.com/110 — Roget’s International Thesaurus (85,000 words)
bartleby.com/100 — Bartlett’s Quotations

Omniglot— An online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages with links to dictionaries in dozens of languages.

wordnik.com, a comprehensive online wiki-dictionary that includes defintions, pronounciation, etymologies, synonyms.

Out of the Drawer and Into Print — Terry Ehret’s blog includes tips on self-publishing and other resources for writers. (Terry was Sonoma County Poet Laureate 2004-2006)

Poe War Writer's Resource Center. Articles on writing and marketing writing. Listings of freelance writing jobs.

writers.net — Writing resources, news and discussion for authors/writers, editors, publishers and agents. A free Internet directory.

Writers Quest offers a free research portal and annotated links to everything from forensics for writers to names databases, to writing prompts and information on publishing.